male chauvinism
C1Formal, academic, journalistic.
Definition
Meaning
The belief that men are inherently superior to women and should dominate them.
A prejudiced belief system or attitude, typically held by men, that promotes male dominance in social, political, and economic spheres, often manifested through discriminatory practices or patronizing behaviour.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a compound noun. The term 'chauvinism' originally meant excessive, unreasoning patriotism; in the 20th century, it was combined with 'male' to specifically denote sexism. It implies an ideology rather than isolated acts of prejudice.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term is equally understood and used in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly negative and dated, associated with second-wave feminism critiques from the 1960s-1980s.
Frequency
More frequent in historical, sociological, or gender studies contexts than in casual modern speech, where 'sexism' or 'misogyny' may be more common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + male chauvinism: display, exhibit, fight, challenge, root out[Adjective] + male chauvinism: rampant, overt, subtleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A dinosaur (informal for a male chauvinist)”
- “A neanderthal (informal for a male chauvinist)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in discussions of workplace discrimination, glass ceilings, and gender diversity initiatives.
Academic
Common in sociology, gender studies, political science, and historical analysis of social movements.
Everyday
Used to criticise outdated or discriminatory attitudes, often in a somewhat retrospective sense.
Technical
Not typically a technical term; 'sexism' is more clinically precise in psychology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was chauvinising about women not being suited for leadership, which shocked the team.
American English
- The manager was accused of chauvinizing female employees with his constant micromanagement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His male chauvinism was obvious when he said only men could do that job.
- She does not tolerate any male chauvinism in her company.
- The film critiques the pervasive male chauvinism of 1950s corporate culture.
- Overcoming institutional male chauvinism requires comprehensive policy changes.
- The senator's rhetoric was steeped in a form of male chauvinism that framed protective legislation as benevolence rather than control.
- Post-war economic structures were analysed as being fundamentally shaped by unacknowledged male chauvinism.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MALE' thinks he's 'CHAMPION' (sounds like chauvin-) but it's an '-ISM' (bad belief system). Male Champion-ism -> Male Chauvinism.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDEOLOGY IS A STRUCTURE (entrenched, institutional), PREJUDICE IS A DISEASE (rampant, combat).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'мужской шовинизм'. While understood in intellectual circles, the more common and natural Russian equivalent is 'мужской шовинизм' but 'сексизм' (sexism) is more frequently used in modern discourse.
- The Russian word 'шовинизм' alone strongly implies nationalism, not sexism.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'chauvinist' alone to mean 'male chauvinist' without context can be ambiguous (it could mean nationalist).
- Confusing 'male chauvinism' with general 'macho' behaviour; chauvinism is a belief system, not just behaviour.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the MOST accurate synonym for 'male chauvinism' in a modern sociological context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar, but 'male chauvinism' specifically denotes the ideology of male superiority, often systemic, while 'sexism' can refer to both individual prejudiced acts and the broader system.
Yes, a woman can internalize and promote beliefs of male superiority, thus exhibiting male chauvinist attitudes.
It is still understood and used, particularly in historical or analytical contexts, but 'sexism', 'misogyny', or 'patriarchal attitudes' are often more frequent in contemporary discourse.
A 'chauvinist' primarily means an excessively patriotic person. A 'male chauvinist' specifically means a person, usually a man, who believes in male superiority. Context is key.